A walker with a broken ankle was rescued from inaccessible woodland - after a quick-witted paramedic summoned a train as a makeshift ambulance.

The casualty was whisked to a waiting land ambulance after emergency operators arranged for the train to stop close to the accident site near Solihull, West Midlands.

The patient, who was injured at about 2.15pm today, was then driven from Earlswood railway station to Redditch's Alexandra Hospital.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "Crews were called to reports of a woman who had become injured near to a railway track whilst out walking with a group of people in the woods.

"On arrival at the scene, the paramedic had to walk for approximately 20 minutes into the woods before coming across the casualty.

"The woman was assessed and it was discovered that she had sustained a fractured ankle.

"Due to the location of the incident and the rough terrain, the quick-thinking paramedic liaised with the railway and plans were put into place for the next passing train to stop in the woods to make a special pick-up.

"An ambulance crew were on board the train to greet the woman, who was immobilised on a stretcher.

"The woman and ambulance crew travelled to Earlswood station to an awaiting ambulance, where she was conveyed on to her next stop, Alexandra Hospital."